Treble viola da gamba
Alternate name(s)
- Treble viol
Maker
John Hoskin
Date1609
Place MadeEngland, Europe
SignedWritten in black ink on paper label in shape of parallelogram: John hoskin / made me 1609DescriptionThis treble viol is the only surviving example by John Hoskin. The English viol making tradition began in the mid 16th century and its instruments were revered throughout Europe. The treble viol was used as the high voice in an ensemble of viols, known as a consort, as well as in other chamber groups and for solo music. The National Music Museum's Hoskin viol features geometric inlaid decoration typical of the English school. It was cut down to be repurposed as a viola at some point in its history and restored as a treble viol by John Pringle, who raised the height of the sides back to their original configuration and made a new neck and head for the instrument.
Top: five-piece, quarter-cut spruce: very fine grain
Back: two-piece maple cut off-the-quarter: narrow, irregular curl ascending from center joint; flat; break in upper bout; later break in lower bout restored to flat surface
Ribs: slab-cut maple: quilted; restored to original height by John Pringle after historic conversion to viola
Head and neck: maple: irregular, loose curl; open scroll and chip-work decoration on pegbox; by John Pringle
Arching: low, possibly bent arching on top; none on back
Edging: no recurve
Purfling: double five-ply light and dark hardwood purfling
Decoration: inlaid geometric knotwork comprised of five-ply light and dark hardwood purfling on uper and lower part of back and on upper and lower ribs
Varnish: gold-orange
Fingerboard: maple inlaid with narrow, reverse-color light and dark hardwood purfling with knot pattern at lower end; by John Pringle
Nut: maple; by John Pringle
Tailpiece: maple inlaid with narrow, reverse-color light and dark hardwood purfling with knot pattern at upper end; by John Pringle
Tailpiece hook: maple; pyramid-shaped front; by John Pringle
Pegs: six boxwood with undercut heads and ivory pins; by John Pringle
Soundholes: C-shaped; undercut
Linings: cloth; later, by John Pringle
Corner blocks: none; linen linings
Top block: spruce upper portion with slot-headed screw; lower portion comprised of endgrain hardwood; later
Bottom block: spruce; later
Bassbar: spruce; late
Technical drawing available for purchase.
DimensionsTotal treble viol length: 708 mm
Top length: 383 mm
Upper bout width: 185 mm
Center bout width: 134 mm
Lower bout width: 222 mm
Upper rib height: 44-75 mm
Center rib height: 74-76 mm
Lower rib height: 72-76 mm
Stop length: 220 mm
Vibrating string length: 400 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 179 mm
ProvenancePurchased in 1986 from John Pringle, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Previously owned by William E. Hill & Sons, London, England.
Technical Drawings
Credit LineRawlins Fund, 1986
Object number03986
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